Nicholls is not bringing enough athletes to win a conference championship, however, most of the athletes competing for the Colonels rank at or near the top of their respective events meaning some individuals could win championships or earn medals.

Colonels coach Heather Van Norman said a team title is out of the question, but she does expect her athletes to score points and be competitive.

"I think what we do have is quality. We have quality student-athletes, and they have brought out the best in themselves. We have athletes that have a lot of talent and that can score a number of points," Van Norman said. "We don't have the depth to compete for a team title, but our girls have worked hard on and off the field. I'm looking forward to building this squad and bringing in more people that can score points and compete in this conference."

Nicholls has three athletes ranked No. 1 in their events entering the conference meet.

Jackie White and Tessni Carruthers rank first and second in both the 800-and 1500-meter runs. White tops the list of runners in the 800-meter with a time of 2 minutes, 10.64 seconds, while Carruthers has the top 1500-meter time at 4:29.92. The other runner that tops an event list is Kryshell Rolle who has the best time in the 100-meter hurdles at 13.90. Rolle also ranks third with a time of 1:01.37 in the 400-meter hurdles.

White said after a successful indoor and outdoor season, she is confident she can improve on her times and win a medal.

"My confidence is way up, and that is not to say I can't be beaten, but having success has given me confidence. Placing at the conference meet is important, but all during the season I just wanted to drop my times," White said. "I want to reach that next level, and I really want to get to regionals, but everyone in the conference is looking good. I want to get to regionals in the 800, but I've been at the same time. I hope to have that race where I can drop two or three seconds off my time. I really need that perfect race and not get boxed in, and I think it can happen at conference."

White, Carruthers and Rolle are all on the cusp of earning berths to the NCAA East Regional Track and Field Championship in Greensboro, N.C. on May 23-25.

To get invited to the regional meet, athletes have to finish in the Top 48 in their region and two Colonels have already qualified for the regional meet in the javelin event.

Jaimee Springer and Aja Scott both are expected to do well at the conference championships and will be attending the East regional meet also.

Springer has had a successful outdoor season winning five meets and placing second in two other meets. Even though she has won five meets, Springer enters the conference meet ranked third in the javelin.

Springer said she has steadily improved throughout the season and the competition she has faced has prepared her for the conference meet.

"The competition is stiff just like every year. The girls in the Southland can't be taken for granted. These girls can throw as far as girls from bigger conferences. You can't go there and expect to walk in and win. Anything can happen and a lot of girls are throwing in that 145 to 150 range," Springer said. "I came into this year wanting to hit my final mark of last season in the first meet and improve from there. I showed up big when it counted against good competition, and I made those 150-plus throws. I'm trying to hit 155, and if I can hit 160 that would be a plus. Of course you go in and you want to win and get that gold medal and represent Nicholls."

Springer ranks 25th overall in the East region entering the conference meet, while Scott is seventh in the conference in the javelin and No. 44 overall in the East region.

Van Norman said if her athletes reach their potential, the conference meet will be a success and Springer and Scott may have company in two weeks at the regional meet.

"Everyone has had a personal best, so it is a matter of everyone coming together this weekend and scoring as many points as we can," Van Norman said. "We have several people knocking on that door to get into the regional. All they have to do is drop a few seconds off their time. We are putting in extra training so we are going to go for it and see what happens. All I ask is for them to do what they are capable of doing. We are not going out to do something fancy or set world records. Just do what you are capable of, and if we can get a slight improvement, things could fall into place for several athletes."

<p>If success breeds success, then Nicholls State University's women's track and field team should expect a successful weekend at the 2013 Southland Conference Track and Field Championships.</p><p>The conference championship meet begins today at McNeese State's Cameron Communications Complex in Lake Charles and ends on Sunday.</p><p>Nicholls is not bringing enough athletes to win a conference championship, however, most of the athletes competing for the Colonels rank at or near the top of their respective events meaning some individuals could win championships or earn medals.</p><p>Colonels coach Heather Van Norman said a team title is out of the question, but she does expect her athletes to score points and be competitive.</p><p>"I think what we do have is quality. We have quality student-athletes, and they have brought out the best in themselves. We have athletes that have a lot of talent and that can score a number of points," Van Norman said. "We don't have the depth to compete for a team title, but our girls have worked hard on and off the field. I'm looking forward to building this squad and bringing in more people that can score points and compete in this conference."</p><p>Nicholls has three athletes ranked No. 1 in their events entering the conference meet.</p><p>Jackie White and Tessni Carruthers rank first and second in both the 800-and 1500-meter runs. White tops the list of runners in the 800-meter with a time of 2 minutes, 10.64 seconds, while Carruthers has the top 1500-meter time at 4:29.92. The other runner that tops an event list is Kryshell Rolle who has the best time in the 100-meter hurdles at 13.90. Rolle also ranks third with a time of 1:01.37 in the 400-meter hurdles.</p><p>White said after a successful indoor and outdoor season, she is confident she can improve on her times and win a medal.</p><p>"My confidence is way up, and that is not to say I can't be beaten, but having success has given me confidence. Placing at the conference meet is important, but all during the season I just wanted to drop my times," White said. "I want to reach that next level, and I really want to get to regionals, but everyone in the conference is looking good. I want to get to regionals in the 800, but I've been at the same time. I hope to have that race where I can drop two or three seconds off my time. I really need that perfect race and not get boxed in, and I think it can happen at conference."</p><p>White, Carruthers and Rolle are all on the cusp of earning berths to the NCAA East Regional Track and Field Championship in Greensboro, N.C. on May 23-25.</p><p>To get invited to the regional meet, athletes have to finish in the Top 48 in their region and two Colonels have already qualified for the regional meet in the javelin event.</p><p>Jaimee Springer and Aja Scott both are expected to do well at the conference championships and will be attending the East regional meet also.</p><p>Springer has had a successful outdoor season winning five meets and placing second in two other meets. Even though she has won five meets, Springer enters the conference meet ranked third in the javelin.</p><p>Springer's distance of 152-feet 1-inch, is behind Stephen F. Austin's Madison Johnston's distance of 161-feet and Northwestern State's Jessica Tally's mark of 157-9.</p><p>Springer said she has steadily improved throughout the season and the competition she has faced has prepared her for the conference meet.</p><p>"The competition is stiff just like every year. The girls in the Southland can't be taken for granted. These girls can throw as far as girls from bigger conferences. You can't go there and expect to walk in and win. Anything can happen and a lot of girls are throwing in that 145 to 150 range," Springer said. "I came into this year wanting to hit my final mark of last season in the first meet and improve from there. I showed up big when it counted against good competition, and I made those 150-plus throws. I'm trying to hit 155, and if I can hit 160 that would be a plus. Of course you go in and you want to win and get that gold medal and represent Nicholls."</p><p>Springer ranks 25th overall in the East region entering the conference meet, while Scott is seventh in the conference in the javelin and No. 44 overall in the East region.</p><p>Van Norman said if her athletes reach their potential, the conference meet will be a success and Springer and Scott may have company in two weeks at the regional meet.</p><p>"Everyone has had a personal best, so it is a matter of everyone coming together this weekend and scoring as many points as we can," Van Norman said. "We have several people knocking on that door to get into the regional. All they have to do is drop a few seconds off their time. We are putting in extra training so we are going to go for it and see what happens. All I ask is for them to do what they are capable of doing. We are not going out to do something fancy or set world records. Just do what you are capable of, and if we can get a slight improvement, things could fall into place for several athletes."</p>